Francisco Rodriguez Lozano
Chair of the Board
My contribution to CPE:
I represent the Alejandro Da Silva Foundation against Leukaemia. It is an association that helps patients with haematological diseases in the Canary Islands. As a member of the Board and Chair of CPE, I will lead the association in a democratic and collaborative way for the benefit of all cancer patients and their carers across Europe. I will work closely with the Secretariat and the other Board Members to increase the credibility of CPE and consolidate its relationship with the European institutions and all the other relevant stakeholders with the ultimate goal of co-creating policies that drive prevention, high-quality cancer care, treatment and survivorship in Europe.
Who I am:
I am a cancer survivor. I was diagnosed with leukaemia 15 years ago and now I am fully recovered. I had a blood marrow transplant with some complications that made me spend over a year in the hospital. After that, I decided to dedicate myself to public health and specifically to oral cancer prevention, tobacco control, and to support cancer patients.
And Professionally:
I am a doctor, specialised in stomatology. Since my cancer diagnosis, I have essentially worked in public health, and I have been responsible for several years of oral cancer early diagnosis and prevention campaigns organised in Spain by the Ministry of Health with the Spanish Dental Association, of which I was Secretary General. I have experience in European affairs as I have been vice president of the Council of European Dentists (CED) for 3 years and President of the European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention (ENSP) for 7 years.
Jacqueline Daly
Vice-Chair of the Board
My contribution to CPE:
It is 13 years since I co-founded our cancer patient support centre. We started on my kitchen table in 2010, opened our centre in 2012, and now serve over 220 cancer patients a week serving a population of about 250.000 in the West and Midlands of Galway in Ireland. We today act as a reference point for our local hospital.
I will support my fellow board members and CPE Chair in every way possible to ensure cancer patients and their families are given the best possible cancer care and support. I look forward to working towards cancer prevention, treatment, and the best survivorship right across Europe.
Who I am:
I am a melanoma cancer patient survivor, and I am also a carer since my husband Michael was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Since my melanoma diagnosis in 2005, I am a dedicated patient advocate and campaigner, bringing awareness to local and national government agencies. I am Irish and lived 10 years in New Zealand and 4 in Australia before returning to Ireland.
And Professionally:
I am the director of services at East Galway & Midlands cancer support, a member of Let’s Talk Prostate Cancer (LTPC), a member of the PPI group of the Irish Society of Gynaecological Oncology, a member of HPV Action Group Ireland & Europe, and the patient representative on the board of Sexual Medicine Ireland. I am also a member of Independent Cancer Patient Voice (ICPV).
Conchi Biurrun
Board Member and Secretary
My contribution to CPE:
I represent the Federación Española de Cáncer de Mama, FECMA, the Spanish Federation of breast cancer associations. I will contribute to the governance, decision making and management of CPE together with the other Board Members. As Secretary of the Board, I will also be the liaison person between the Board and the Staff, supporting the Staff in any way possible.
Who I am:
I am a breast cancer survivor – I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the end of 2009. In 2010 I had a mastectomy and chemotherapy, and I also started a hormonal treatment for five years. I was reconstructed in 2011. In 2013 I started advocacy activities for breast cancer patients with Federación Española de Cáncer de Mama (FECMA). Since March 2016 I have been treasurer of FECMA. I am very active in advocacy activities taking part in different patient advisory boards and collaborating also with EORTC and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
And Professionally:
I retired early at 61, I was an international trade advisor at the Navarra Chamber of Commerce and Industry. I got a master’s degree in Marketing and Foreign Trade and, other than Spanish, I speak English, French and Italian.
James Caldwell
Board Member and Treasurer
My contribution to CPE:
My role as a Board member is to contribute to the management of CPE and to support my fellow board members and the secretariat in striving to improve the lives of cancer patients and their caregivers throughout Europe. As Treasurer, I will oversee the finance function and ensure that adequate financial controls are in place to safeguard the assets of the organisation.
Who I am:
I am a rare cancer patient – I was diagnosed with cancer of the appendix in 2014 (Audrey Hepburn died of the same disease). Since then, I have been disease free but have post-treatment complications. I represent a rare disease charity in Northern Ireland – my specific interest is rare cancers.
And Professionally:
I am a Chartered Accountant acting as a consultant in public practice. I also co-own a care home for frail elderly people and those with dementia. I was also a Registered Nurse for many years.
Merel Hennink
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My contribution to CPE:
At the end of 2014, right after my diagnosis, I decided I wanted to be a voice and face of Lung Cancer Patients. There is a huge unmet need for access to early and accurate diagnosis treatment and care. So, access to the right diagnosis, treatment, and care became my main National, European, and global focus. The experience I have as a lung cancer patient and advocate will be my added value to CPE. I want to share my experience and expertise and build on it for the benefit of all Cancer Patients beyond lung cancer. I represent Lung Cancer Europe (LuCE) on CPE Board. I will work with all the other Board Members and the Secretariat to leverage the current prioritization of cancer care and treatment in Europe for the benefit of cancer patients.
Who I am:
I am a mother of 2 living with stage IV lung cancer for the last 8 years. Because I have had access to biomarker testing and treatment, I am still alive today. Research has kept me alive, so I want to dedicate the rest of my life to helping all cancer patients get the best treatment possible.
And Professionally:
I am a Social Economic Historian by training. Until April 2020, I worked as a program manager and a teacher at the University of Applied Science in Groningen. But as advocacy work became more structured, I decided to put 100% of my time and energy into the service of advocacy for cancer patients.